Meet The Team

Sherman Armstrong

Head Coach

Hurdles and High Jump

Sherman Armstrong is the Owner and Head Performance Director of VAST Sports Performance where he helps athletes at all levels elevate their game. Having trained hundreds of current professional athletes. Armstrong is considered among some of the best Performance Specialist in his field. From 2012-2014 he served as the Head Speed and Associate Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of Georgia Football Program. Armstrong holds a Master's degree in Science of Human Movement and a C.S.C.S certification.

Adia Armstrong

Head Coach

Sprints

Adia is the manager of VAST Sports Performance and Summer Camp. She attended UCLA from 2000-2005 where she earned a Full Scholarship to run Track. During her career at UCLA she became an 5x All-American, 3x Pac 10 Champion, and ran for Trinidad and Tobago. From 2012-2015 Adia served as an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at the University of Georgia for the Track & and Field and Cross Country Program. Adia holds a Master's degree in Science of Human Movement and a C.S.C.S. certification.

Steven Gamble

Head X- Country Coach /Recruiter

Middle and Long Distance

Coach Gamble was born and raised in Martinsville, VA and joined the US Army at 17 as a combat infantryman and also served as a Military Police Officer for 10 years. He has participated in track and field since he was 12 years old. He attended Virginia State University on a track scholarship.

Lakeisha Gamble

Head Throws Coach/ Team Coordinator

Discus, Javelin, Shot Put

My name is Lakeisha Gamble. I was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, FL. I’ve worked for the United States Air Force for 19 years. I am a mother of 4 and I have always loved track and field. I enjoy working with children and helping them to achieve their goals. USATF Coaching Level I Certified. Distance and Throws coach.

Helen Wallace

Head Developmental Coach

Coach Wallace was born and raised in Philadelphia Pa. She ran Club Track and cross country with The Philadelphia Flames TC from the age of seven until she graduated from High school, specializing in the 400 and 800 meter distances. Coach Wallace started long distance racing in 2012 and has trained and run in more than 100 endurance events to include The 200 mile Ragnar Relay and multiple triathlons. Coach Wallace joined the US Army in 1989 as a Mortuary Affairs Specialist and commissioned through the Army Officer Candidate program in 2003 to become a Logistics Officer. She retired in 2023 after completing 34 years of active service. She holds a bachelors in interdisciplinary studies and a Master of Science in Logistics and Transportation Management from Florida Institute of Technology.

Kelly Nowell-Joyner

Jump Coach

Long Jump

I go by “Kell”, I am a daughter, wife, mother of 2, and sister to a few! Not born, but raised in Tampa, FL., where I began running track around 10 years old, with my favorites being, the 200m and long jump. I’m proudly a (disabled) combat veteran, serving as an Army communications specialist for 6 years until injury during deployment. I am currently a paraprofessional, as well as studying to certify as a FL Paralegal at USF.

Rachel Durham

Assistant Coach

High Jump

Rachel was a high jumper for university at Albany, in New York. She started coaching at Calvary Christian High School, in Clearwater, in 2017. Rachel coached both high jump and cross country. In 2019, she wanted to further her coaching education and became a level 1 certified USATF coach, along with a Level 2 certified USATF Jumps coach. Rachel love being able to teach someone who has never high jumped before how to do it. Rachel also love helping veteran athletes get to new levels with their jumping.

Kara Burke

Assistant Coach

Discus, Javelin, Shot Put

My name is Kara Burke. I relocated to Tampa in 2003 to attend and play basketball for USF. I am also a Registered Nurse. I have always had a passion for track & field and most recently have been improving my knowledge in the subject of throws. I enjoy working with student athletes and assisting in creating an environment for them to learn and grow.

Ishan Garret

Assistant Coach

Sprints

Ishan Garrett ran his way to a decorated career at Tiffin University, where Ishan was a five-time NCAA Qualifier in various events such as the 400m, 200m, 4x100m relay and the 4x400m relay, earning his first All-American honors in the 4x400m relay. Garrett was also a GLIAC champion in the 200m dash and 2nd place in the 400m dash where he broke the school record at the time. Ishan earned his bachelors degree in Visual Communications and a minor in Theater in 2015.

Sangeetha Kulasekaran

Coach

My name is Sangeetha Kulasekaran. I was born and raised in India where I truly developed my passion for track and field. I am an Instrumentation and Controls engineer and a mother to two gorgeous girls.
I was an all-rounder growing up, excelling in long jump, High jump, Triple Jump,4x100m relay and Heptathlon, consistently winning medals in all five disciplines at State and national events. I was a national gold medalist in Long Jump, High jump (Record Holder), Triple Jump and 4x100 m Relay. I have received the best athlete award from the President of India and the Chief ministers of the state.
I love to encourage young athletes to follow their passion and achieve their dreams by motivating and guiding these future sport stars to develop their skills and expertise in their sport.
I strongly believe “Quitters never win, and winners never quit.”

Yolonda Sewell

Executive Director of

Non-Profit

Fundraiser and Financial Support

Yolonda Sewell is a Texas native who grew up in Fort Worth. Ms. Sewell received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Psychology from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and obtained her Juris doctorate from Texas Tech University School of Law in Lubbock, Texas where she became the first African American member of the Texas Tech Law Review. In 2008, Ms. Sewell began managing her law firm which consisted of business litigation, family law, and wills and estates. She also served as general counsel for two non-profit entities. After six years of full-time law practice, Ms. Sewell transitioned to legal academia with the goal of improving the law school pipeline and access to legal education for historically marginalized communities. Having taught at Texas A&M University School of Law, CUNY School of Law, and WMU-Cooley School of Law, she is adept at creating a comprehensive approach for bar passage while supporting academic success programs and counseling students on becoming self-regulated learners. Ms. Sewell writes and presents nationally on the intersection of educational psychology, learning science, and sense of belonging as it relates to law school entry, law school success, and bar passage.

Jonesha Pierrelus

Team Mom

Jonesha Pierrelus prefers to go by "Jo" has been with the team for 6 years. Jo has a degree in Office Management/Administration and has been doing Administration duties for VAST Track club for 5 years. Jo also serves the secretary on the Board.